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Swimming - 02. August 2007.

SEASON'S BEST PERFORMANCE FOR MCCLATCHEY





The large crowd also witnessed a World Record and a British Record from the cream of British Disability swimmers.

Caitlin McClatchey took the Women's 200m Freestyle title winning in a time of 1:58.51. The double Commonwealth Games gold medallist was trailing Loughborough University team-mate Mel Marshall at the 150m mark but kicked hard to take gold.

Marshall was second in 1:59.14 and Jo Jackson of Derwentside was third in 1:59.39.

"My main aim for this meet was a season's best and that's what I've done. I've been working on my speed and it's showing all the time but there's still more to do."

Lizzie Simmonds continued her dominance of British women's backstroke taking the title in the 100m final.

The 16-year old Lincoln Vulcans swimmer was pushed hard by Katy Sexton of Portsmouth Northsea but had done enough to win gold, finishing in a time of 1:01.28.

Sexton took silver in 1:01.93 and Karen Lee of Bath University won bronze in 1:03.07.

It's been a tough couple of months for Simmonds.

She said, "I felt my shoulder tighten slightly tonight. I gave it my all in the 200m event earlier in the meet, and after a busy two weeks including the European Junior Championships I'm beginning to feel it.

"It was still a fast time though and I'm not on my taper yet for the international meets this month."

Looking ahead she added, "It's always nice to win a medal but one day I'll start looking to attack those British Records."

Jemma Lowe won the battle of the 17-year olds in the final of the Women's 100m Butterfly. The Borough of Stockton swimmer was pushed all the way by City of Liverpool's Fran Halsall to win gold in 59.26. Halsall fought hard but in the end had to settle for silver in 59.33 while Terri Dunning ensured a tight finish to take bronze in 59.52.

After the race Lowe was clearly relieved:

"I was really nervous tonight. I knew they would be chasing me all the way and I felt it. I could see swimmers either side of me but I just made sure I gave it everything I had.

"I felt tight after last night but I didn't want to give it up and I'm happy with gold."



In the Women's MD 50m Backstroke final S1 swimmer Danielle Watts from City of Oxford took gold with 848 points. Jan Langton of Kelly College (S6) was second with 815 points/48.27 and Kate Grey of Thornbury (S9) won bronze with 730 points/37.69.

Rebecca Cooke (City of Glasgow Swim Team) and Cassie Patten (Stockport Metro) both took to the front at several points throughout the race, with neither managing to get more than a heads advantage, until around the 250m mark.

It was Cooke who then found that extra head of steam and looked certain for the win. Patten, however, responded and kicked hard and the pair were again neck and neck going into the final 50m.

In the end, it went down to the touch and Cooke came out victorious with a time of 16:25.29, just a fingertip ahead of Patten who had to settle for silver in 16:25.44. Jazmin Carlin of Tigersharks won bronze in 16:51.83.

"That was a fun race", commented Cooke after the race.

"I know Cassie has a great finish so I had to work hard to find an edge. My main event is the 800m, but competing in the 1500m is always helps with endurance."

Kate Haywood won her second title of the meet, taking gold in the final of the Women's 100m Breaststroke. Haywood from Loughborough University won in 31.62, just ahead of Zoe Baker (Bath University) who finished in 31.70 and received a commemorative medal.

Lowri Tynan of Wrexham picked up the silver medal in 32.49 and Kirsty Balfour from City of Edinburgh Swimming took bronze in 32.84.

Haywood said, "I'm pleased but I could have gone quicker. I'm lacking speed at the moment through an illness I had last week. I noticed I was sluggish in the 100m event but I'm sure it will all come right over the next two weeks leading up to Japan.

"Overall it's been a good week for me and I'm looking to build on my success over the rest of the season."

Claire Cashmore of Kelly College (SB8) broke the British Record in the final of the Women's MD 100m Breaststroke. Cashmore finished with the bronze medal with a time of 1:27.26 and 817 points. Liz Johnson from Swansea Performance Centre (SB6) took the title in 1:44.15/907 points with Charlotte Henshaw winning silver in 1:45.06/884 points.

Following the race Cashmore said,

"I'm quite happy but felt I could have gone quicker. Training has been very good and I expected more but I know it will happen. I'm not taking a break as its all going so well but I'll lower my intensity over the next couple of weeks before we look to Beijing."

In the Women's 14/15 yrs 200m IM the title went to Sophie Allen of Lincoln Vulcans in 2:18.65. Aimee Willmott, recently returned from the EYOF in Belgrade, was second in 2:21.02 and Robyn Matthews (City of Edinburgh Swimming) claimed third place in 2:22.79.

In the 16/17 yrs age group, Karlien Van Heerden from South Africa was awarded a commemorative medal for finishing first in 2:18.68, but the National title went to Jessica Dickons from Borough of Stockton who touched home in 2:18.73.

Emma Smithurst from Derventio won silver in 2:19.59 and Kate Hutchinson from City of Leeds took bronze in 2:20.72.

In the Women's event it was the team from Nova Centurion who won gold in 4:17.16, well ahead of silver medallists Beckenham who finished in 4:21.71. The team from City of Birmingham were third in 4:22.10.
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